Methods and systems for deploying network configuration information for multiple information handling systems

ABSTRACT

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a controller may be communicatively coupled to a media interface and to each of a plurality of slots of a chassis, and may be configured to identify information handling systems instantiated within the chassis which require network configuration, read network configuration deployment information from a computer-readable medium received at the media interface, and for each information handling system instantiated within the chassis which requires network configuration, deploy network configuration parameters for the information handling system based on information set forth in the network configuration deployment information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to modular information handling systems.More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide systems andmethods for deploying network configuration information for multipleinformation handling systems, including a plurality of modularinformation handling systems disposed in one or more chassis.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Existing server architectures either provide a single monolithic servercapable of running one operating system (or a single hypervisor runningmultiple virtualized operating systems) and input/output (“I/O”)resources at a time, or bulky blade server chassis providing multipleservers and I/O control modules in a single chassis. A system chassiswith multiple information handling systems with various peripheral andI/O capabilities common to the chassis as a whole may provideadvantages, as it allows a blade server chassis in a small form factor,thereby providing a blade server chassis with a size comparable to thesize of a monolithic server. Implementation of a system chassis withmultiple information handling systems with various peripheral and I/Ocapabilities common to the chassis as a whole presents numerouschallenges.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, thedisadvantages and problems associated with traditional approachesconfiguring networking information for modular information handlingresources have been substantially reduced or eliminated.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a chassis mayinclude a plurality of slots, a media interface, and a controller. Theplurality of slots may each configured to receive a module having one ormore information handling systems, wherein each slot is configured toelectrically and communicatively couple the module to other componentsof the chassis. The media interface may be configured to receive anon-transitory computer-readable media and configured to electricallyand communicatively couple the computer-readable media to othercomponents of the chassis. The controller may be communicatively coupledto the media interface and to each of the plurality of slots and may beconfigured to identify information handling systems instantiated withinthe chassis which require network configuration, read networkconfiguration deployment information from a computer-readable mediumreceived at the media interface, and for each information handlingsystem instantiated within the chassis which requires networkconfiguration, deploy network configuration parameters for theinformation handling system based on information set forth in thenetwork configuration deployment information.

In accordance with these and other embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a method may include, in a chassis having a plurality ofslots each configured to receive a module having one or more informationhandling systems wherein each slot is configured to electrically andcommunicatively couple the module to other components of the chassis,identifying information handling systems instantiated within the chassiswhich require network configuration. The method may also include readingnetwork configuration deployment information from a computer-readablemedium received at a media interface integral to the chassis, the mediainterface for receiving non-transitory computer-readable media andconfigured to electrically and communicatively couple thecomputer-readable media to other components of the chassis. The methodmay further include for each information handling system instantiatedwithin the chassis which requires network configuration, deployingnetwork configuration parameters for the information handling systembased on information set forth in the network configuration deploymentinformation.

In accordance with these and other embodiments of the presentdisclosure, an article of manufacture may include a non-transitorycomputer readable medium and computer-executable instructions carried onthe computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor.The instructions, when read and executed, may cause the processor to, ina chassis having a plurality of slots each configured to receive amodule having one or more information handling systems wherein each slotis configured to electrically and communicatively couple the module toother components of the chassis, identify information handling systemsinstantiated within the chassis which require network configuration. Theinstructions may also cause the processor to read network configurationdeployment information from a computer-readable medium received at amedia interface integral to the chassis, the media interface forreceiving non-transitory computer-readable media and configured toelectrically and communicatively couple the computer-readable media toother components of the chassis. The method may further cause theprocessor to, for each information handling system instantiated withinthe chassis which requires network configuration, deploy networkconfiguration parameters for the information handling system based oninformation set forth in the network configuration deploymentinformation.

Technical advantages of the present disclosure may be readily apparentto one skilled in the art from the figures, description and claimsincluded herein. The objects and advantages of the embodiments will berealized and achieved at least by the elements, features, andcombinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are examples and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the claims set forth in this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantagesthereof may be acquired by referring to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cut-away perspective view of a chassis forreceiving modular information handling resources, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example chassis drawer forcarrying modular information handling resources, the drawer in an openposition, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example chassis drawer forcarrying modular information handling resources, the drawer in a closedposition, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another example chassis drawerfor carrying information handling resources, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the chassis depicted in FIG. 1, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of an example method for deployingnetwork configuration for multiple information handling systems, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates selected contents of an example network configurationinformation deployment file, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates selected contents of an example network configurationinformation deployment file, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood byreference to FIGS. 1-8, wherein like numbers are used to indicate likeand corresponding parts.

For the purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a consumer electronic device, a network storagedevice, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape,performance, functionality, and price. The information handling systemmay include memory, one or more processing resources such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additionalcomponents of the information handling system may include one or morestorage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more busses operable to transmitcommunication between the various hardware components.

For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may includeany instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retaindata and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable mediamay include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct accessstorage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequentialaccess storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM,DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; aswell as communications media such as wires, optical fibers, microwaves,radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/orany combination of the foregoing.

In this disclosure, the term “information handling resource” may broadlyrefer to any component system, device or apparatus of an informationhandling system, including without limitation processors, busses,memories, input-output devices and/or interfaces, storage resources,network interfaces, motherboards, electro-mechanical devices (e.g.,fans), displays, and power supplies.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a chassis 100 for receivingmodular information handling resources, in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure, with certain elements (e.g., walls forenclosing components within chassis 100) cut-away or removed in order toshow information handling resources internal to chassis 100. Chassis 100may be an enclosure that serves as a container for various informationhandling systems and information handling resources, and may beconstructed from steel, aluminum, plastic, and/or any other suitablematerial. Although the term “chassis” is used, chassis 100 may also bereferred to as a case, cabinet, tower, box, enclosure, and/or housing.In certain embodiments, chassis 100 may be configured to hold and/orprovide power to a plurality of information handling systems and/orinformation handling resources. As depicted in FIG. 1, chassis 100 mayinclude one or more slots 106 configured to receive drawers 104 forcarrying information handling resources, as described in greater detailbelow. For example, some drawers 104 may include one or more informationhandling systems. As another example, some drawers 104 may include oneor more peripherals (e.g., hard disk drives, graphics processing units,etc.) associated with information handling systems disposed in anotherdrawer 104.

Each drawer 104 may include an interface connector 118 configured toelectrically couple to a midplane 108, thus providing electricalcoupling between information handling resources carried on the variousdrawers 104 to each other and/or one or more networks or devicesexternal to chassis 100. Midplane 108 may comprise any system, device,or apparatus configured to interconnect information handling resourcesof chassis 100 with each other. Accordingly, midplane 108 may includeslots, pads, and/or other connectors configured to receive correspondingelectrical connectors of information handling resources in order toelectrically couple information handling systems disposed in drawers 104and/or information handling resources to each other.

A chassis management controller (CMC) 112 may be communicatively coupledto midplane 108 and may comprise any system, device, or apparatusconfigured to facilitate management and/or control of components ofchassis 100, information handling systems modularly coupled within,and/or one or more of its component information handling resources. CMC112 may be configured to issue commands and/or other signals to manageand/or control information handling systems coupled to slots 106 and/orinformation handling resources of chassis 100. CMC 112 may comprise amicroprocessor, microcontroller, DSP, ASIC, field programmable gatearray (“FPGA”), EEPROM, or any combination thereof.

In addition or alternatively, CMC 112 may also provide a managementconsole for user/administrator access to these functions. For example,CMC 112 may provide for communication with a user interface (e.g., userinterface 116), permitting a user to interact with CMC 112 and configurecontrol and management of components of chassis 100 by CMC 112. Asanother example, CMC 112 may implement Web Services Management(“WS-MAN”) or another suitable management protocol permitting a user toremotely access a CMC 112 to configure chassis 100 and its variousinformation handling resources. In such embodiments, a CMC 112 mayinterface with a network interface separate from a traditional networkinterface of chassis 100, thus allowing for “out-of-band” control ofchassis 100, such that communications to and from CMC 112 arecommunicated via a management channel physically isolated from an “inband” communication channel with the traditional network interface.Thus, for example, if a failure occurs in chassis 100 that prevents anadministrator from interfacing with chassis 100 via a traditionalnetwork interface and/or user interface 116 (e.g., operating systemfailure, power failure, etc.), the administrator may still be able tomonitor and/or manage chassis 100 (e.g., to diagnose problems that mayhave caused failure) via CMC 112. In the same or alternativeembodiments, CMC 112 may allow an administrator to remotely manage oneor more parameters associated with operation of chassis 100 and itsvarious information handling resources (e.g., power usage, processorallocation, memory allocation, security privileges, etc.).

One or more air movers 110 may be communicatively coupled to CMC 112,and may include any mechanical or electro-mechanical system, apparatus,or device operable to move air and/or other gasses. In some embodiments,an air mover 110 may comprise a fan (e.g., a rotating arrangement ofvanes or blades which act on the air). In other embodiments, an airmover 110 may comprise a blower (e.g., a centrifugal fan that employsrotating impellers to accelerate air received at its intake and changethe direction of the airflow). In these and other embodiments, rotatingand other moving components of an air mover 110 may be driven by amotor. The rotational speed of such motor may be controlled by one ormore control signals communicated from CMC 112. In operation, an airmover 110 may cool information handling systems and information handlingresources of chassis 100 by drawing cool air into chassis 100 fromoutside chassis 100, expel warm air from inside chassis 100 to theoutside of chassis 100, and/or move air across one or more heatsinks(not explicitly shown) internal to chassis 100 to cool one or moreinformation handling systems and/or information handling resources.Although FIG. 1 depicts chassis 100 as having two air movers 110,chassis 100 may include any suitable number of air movers 110.

As shown in FIG. 1, chassis 100 may include one or more power supplies114. Generally speaking, a power supply 114 may include any system,device, or apparatus configured to supply electrical current to one ormore information handling resources within chassis 100.

A user interface 116 may include any system, apparatus, or device viawhich a user may interact with chassis 100 and its various components byfacilitating input from a user allowing the user to manipulate chassis100 and output to a user allowing chassis 100 to indicate effects of theuser's manipulation. For example, user interface 116 may include adisplay suitable for creating graphic images and/or alphanumericcharacters recognizable to a user, and may include, for example, aliquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube, a plasma screen, and/or adigital light processor projection monitor. In certain embodiments, sucha display may be an integral part of chassis 100 and receive power fromone or more power supplies 114 of chassis 100, rather than being coupledto chassis 100 via a cable. In some embodiments, such display maycomprise a touch screen device capable of receiving user input, whereina touch sensor may be mechanically coupled or overlaid upon the displayand may comprise any system, apparatus, or device suitable for detectingthe presence and/or location of a tactile touch, including, for example,a resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, surface acoustic wave sensor,projected capacitance sensor, infrared sensor, strain gauge sensor,optical imaging sensor, dispersive signal technology sensor, and/oracoustic pulse recognition sensor. In these and other embodiments, userinterface 116 may include other user interface elements (e.g., a keypad,buttons, and/or switches placed in proximity to a display) allowing auser to provide input to chassis 100. In these and other embodiments,user interface 116 may include one or more visual indicators, such aslight-emitting diodes, for example, for communicating information to auser. User interface 116 may be coupled to CMC 112 and/or othercomponents of chassis 100, and thus may allow a user to configurevarious information handling systems and/or information handlingresources of chassis 100.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict various views of an example chassis drawer 104A forcarrying modular information handling resources, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspectiveview of an example chassis drawer 104A for carrying modular informationhandling resources, wherein drawer 104A is in an open position drawnfrom chassis 100, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of chassis drawer 104Afor carrying modular information handling resources, wherein drawer 104Ais in a closed position relative to chassis 100, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, chassis drawer 104A may comprise an innermember 204, an intermediate member 206 mechanically coupled to innermember 204, and a carrier member 208 mechanically coupled tointermediate member 206. Inner member 204 may be constructed from steel,aluminum, plastic, and/or any other suitable material. Although innermember 204 may have any suitable size and/or shape, inner member 204 isdepicted in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 as having two substantiallyplanar and parallel opposite sides defining a drawer height coupled toeach other by a substantially planar bottom generally perpendicular tothe sides defining a drawer width and a guide flange extending from andrunning perpendicular to and along the length of each side such that theflanges project towards each other. In some embodiments, inner member204 may be mechanically coupled to the internal mechanical structure ofchassis 100, such that inner member 204 is fixed relative to chassis100.

Intermediate member 206 may be constructed from steel, aluminum,plastic, and/or any other suitable material. Although intermediatemember 206 may have any suitable size and/or shape, intermediate member206 is depicted in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 as having twogenerally parallel and planar opposite sides coupled to each other by asubstantially planar bottom generally perpendicular to the sides. Theheight of the sides and the width of the bottom may be such that thecorresponding sides and bottom of inner member 204 provide a mechanicalguide for intermediate member 206 as chassis drawer 104A is opened andclosed. Intermediate member 206 may be mechanically coupled to innermember 204 via bearings and/or other mechanical components such thatintermediate member 206 may slide relative to inner member 204 in adirection perpendicular to the drawer height and drawer width defined byinner member 204. In some embodiments, intermediate member 206 may belimited in the distance it may be drawn from chassis 100 through anycombination of suitable structural elements. Similarly, in someembodiments, other mechanical components may restrict motion ofintermediate member 206 relative to inner member 204 as chassis drawer104A is translated from the open position to the closed position.

Carrier member 208 may be constructed from steel, aluminum, plastic,and/or any other suitable material. Although carrier member 208 may haveany suitable size and/or shape, carrier member 208 is depicted in theembodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 as having a substantially planar top 214and a substantially planar bottom 216 generally parallel to each otherdefining a width and depth of carrier member 208, the top 214 and bottom216 mechanically coupled to each other by one or more structuralelements defining a height of carrier member 208, such that top 214 andbottom 216 are generally perpendicular to the sides of intermediatemember 206. Carrier member 208 may also include a face 210 mechanicallyaffixed to top 214 and/or bottom 216. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, top 214may include one or more openings (e.g., above bays 212) allowing forgaseous fluid to pass through. Similarly, bottom 216 may also includeone or more openings (e.g., below bays 212) allowing for gaseous fluidto pass through.

In some embodiments, face 210 may be substantially equal in width to thewidth of carrier member 208 and substantially equal to the height ofcarrier member 208. In these and other embodiments, face 210 may includehandles, pull tabs, and/or other features allowing a person to pull onface 210 in order to translate chassis drawer 104A from a closedposition to an open position in a direction generally parallel to thedepth of top 214 and bottom 216. In these and other embodiments, face210 may include a grill, vent, and/or other opening allowing gaseousfluid to enter and/or exit through face 210.

As shown in FIG. 2, each side of carrier member 208 (e.g., portions ofcarrier member 208 between the edges of and substantially parallel totop 214 and bottom 216) may include a web 230 configured to mechanicallycouple carrier member 208 to intermediate member 206, as well asopenings for a plurality of bays 212.

Each of the various bays 212 defined by drawer 104A may include one ormore electrical components for coupling an information handling resource(e.g., a hard disk drive) inserted into such bay 212 to otherinformation handling resources of chassis 100. For example, a backplane(not explicitly shown) may couple a modular information handlingresource disposed in a bay 212 to interface connector 118A, which, asdescribed above, may in turn be coupled to midplane 108. In someembodiments, the various information handling resources may be coupledto interface connector 118A such that when chassis drawer 104A is drawnopen relative to chassis 100, such information handling resourcesmaintain electrical conductivity to interface connector 118A andinterface connector 118A may maintain electrical conductivity tomidplane 108, thus permitting insertion or removal of an informationhandling resource without affecting operation of other informationhandling resources carried by chassis drawer 104A. In such embodiments,interface connector 118A may only be decoupled from midplane 108 whenthe entirety of chassis drawer 104A is removed from chassis 100.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another example chassis drawer104B for carrying information handling resources, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. Although not labeled in detail asin FIGS. 2 and 3, chassis drawer 104B may include one or more mechanicaland/or structural elements (e.g., similar or identical to inner member204, intermediate member 206, and carrier member 208) for translatingchassis drawer 104B between open and closed positions relative tochassis 100. Similar to chassis drawer 104A, the various informationhandling resources carried by chassis drawer 104B may be coupled tointerface connector 118B such that when chassis drawer 104B is drawnopen relative to chassis 100, such information handling resourcesmaintain electrical conductivity to interface connector 118B andinterface connector 118B may maintain electrical conductivity tomidplane 108, thus permitting insertion or removal of an informationhandling resource without affecting operation of other informationhandling resources carried by chassis drawer 104B. In such embodiments,interface connector 118B may only be decoupled from midplane 108 whenthe entirety of chassis drawer 104B is removed from chassis 100.

In the particular chassis drawer 104B depicted in FIG. 4, a backplane408 may have thereon a plurality (e.g., four) of processors 402 and achipset associated with each processor 402, thus defining fourindependent information handling systems carried by chassis drawer 104B.Interface connector 118B may also be coupled to backplane 408, thuscoupling processors 402 to information handling resources of chassis 100external to chassis drawer 104B. In addition, the particular chassisdrawer 104B depicted in FIG. 4 may include a plurality (e.g., four) ofhard disk drives 404 communicatively coupled to backplane 408 (and thusone or more of processors 402) via a drive backplane 410.

As shown in FIG. 4, chassis drawer 104B may comprise a user interface412. User interface 412 may include any system, apparatus, or device viawhich a user may interact with compute nodes (e.g., via a remote accesscontroller such as an Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller or“iDRAC” for example) of chassis drawer 104B and its various componentsby facilitating input from a user allowing the user to compute nodes andto indicate effects of the user's manipulation. For example, userinterface 412 may include a display suitable for creating graphic imagesand/or alphanumeric characters recognizable to a user, and may include,for example, a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube, a plasmascreen, and/or a digital light processor projection monitor. In someembodiments, such display may comprise a touch screen device capable ofreceiving user input, wherein a touch sensor may be mechanically coupledor overlaid upon the display and may comprise any system, apparatus, ordevice suitable for detecting the presence and/or location of a tactiletouch, including, for example, a resistive sensor, capacitive sensor,surface acoustic wave sensor, projected capacitance sensor, infraredsensor, strain gauge sensor, optical imaging sensor, dispersive signaltechnology sensor, and/or acoustic pulse recognition sensor. In theseand other embodiments, user interface 412 may include other userinterface elements (e.g., a keypad, buttons, and/or switches placed inproximity to a display) allowing a user to provide input to one or morecompute nodes of chassis drawer 104B. In these and other embodiments,user interface 412 may include one or more visual indicators, such aslight-emitting diodes, for example, for communicating information to auser.

Although FIGS. 2-4 depict particular example chassis drawers 104,chassis drawers 104 with other configurations may be employed consistentwith the systems and methods herein disclosed. For example, in someembodiments, a chassis drawer 104 similar to that of chassis drawer 104Bmay include only one processor, such that the chassis drawer includesone compute node.

A particular challenge of a modular chassis, such as chassis 100, isconfiguring network configuration parameters for the individualinformation handling systems that are formed by processors 402 and otherinformation handling resources of the various chassis drawers 104installed in chassis 100. Typically, such configuration must be manuallyperformed, which is time consuming and prone to error. Such challenge isfurther exacerbated in an enterprise with multiple chasses each havingmultiple information handling systems instantiated therein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the chassis depicted in FIG. 1, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG.5, chassis 100 may include on its front panel (e.g., at or near userinterface 116) a media interface 502 for receiving a compatiblecomputer-readable medium (e.g., Universal Serial Bus drive, SecureDigital card, etc.). Media interface 502 may be communicatively coupledto CMC 112 (e.g., via backplane 108), such that CMC 112 may access andread information stored on a computer-readable medium coupled to mediainterface 502. Accordingly, network configuration deployment informationmay be stored on such a computer-readable medium, and CMC 112 and/oranother suitable component of chassis 100 may read such networkconfiguration deployment information and automatically configure networkconfiguration of one or more information handling systems instantiatedin chassis 100.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of an example method 600 for deployingnetwork configuration for multiple information handling systems, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. According to someembodiments, method 600 may begin at step 602. As noted above, teachingsof the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety ofconfigurations of chassis 100. As such, the preferred initializationpoint for method 600 and the order of the steps comprising method 600may depend on the implementation chosen.

At step 602, CMC 112 and/or another component of chassis 100 may beginexecution of a routine (e.g., a program of instructions stored in CMC112 or computer-readable media accessible to CMC 112) for deployingnetwork configuration information for information handling systemsinstantiated in chassis 100. Such routine may be initiated in anysuitable manner, including, without limitation, in response to aspecified user interaction with user interface 116, automatically inresponse to powering on of chassis 100, automatically in response to anaddition of a chassis drawer 104.

At step 604, CMC 112 and/or another component of chassis 100 maydetermine if a computer-readable medium is coupled to media interface502 and includes network configuration deployment information. Exampleformats for network configuration deployment information are describedbelow in reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. If a computer-readable medium iscoupled to media interface 502 and includes network configurationdeployment information, method 600 may proceed to step 606. Otherwise,method 600 may end. In some embodiments, before method 600 ends, CMC 112and/or another component of chassis 100 may communicate an indication toa user (e.g., via user interface 116) that an error was encountered inthe routine.

At step 606, responsive to a determination that a computer-readablemedium is coupled to media interface 502 and includes networkconfiguration deployment information, CMC 112 and/or another componentof chassis 100 may identify information handling systems instantiatedwithin chassis 100 for which network configuration is needed. Forinstance, CMC 112 or computer-readable media accessible thereto mayinclude a table, map, database, list, or other suitable data structuresetting forth information handling systems instantiated within chassis100 and whether each of such information handling systems have beenconfigured for network communication.

At step 608, CMC 112 and/or another component of chassis 100 may readnetwork configuration deployment information from the computer-readablemedium coupled to media interface 502, and for each information handlingsystem instantiated within chassis 100 for which network configurationis needed, deploy network configuration parameters for the informationhandling system based on information set forth in the networkconfiguration deployment information. After step 608, method 600 mayend.

Although FIG. 6 discloses a particular number of steps to be taken withrespect to method 600, method 600 may be executed with greater or fewersteps than those depicted in FIG. 6. In addition, although FIG. 6discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method600, the steps comprising method 600 may be completed in any suitableorder.

Method 600 may be implemented using CMC 112 or any other system operableto implement method 600. In certain embodiments, method 600 may beimplemented partially or fully in software and/or firmware embodied incomputer-readable media and executable on a processor of an informationhandling system.

In some embodiments, a computer-readable medium may include networkconfiguration deployment information for information handling systemsinstantiated within a plurality of chasses. In such embodiments, a usermay sequentially couple a computer-readable medium to compatible mediainterfaces 502 of each chassis, and method 600 or a method similarthereto may be executed at each such chassis in order to deploy networkconfiguration information to information handling systems instantiatedon the plurality of chasses.

FIG. 7 illustrates selected contents of an example network configurationinformation deployment file 700, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, network configurationinformation deployment file 700 may include a list, table, map, or otherdata structure with entries each associating unique identifiers forinformation handling systems with respective network configurationinformation (e.g., unique network identifier addresses). Although uniqueidentifiers are shown as the only network configuration information inFIG. 7 for simplicity of illustration, other network configurationinformation (e.g., network priority, bandwidth, etc.) to be associatedwith various information handling system identifiers may be included innetwork configuration information deployment file 700. During executionof step 608 of method 600, CMC 112 and/or another suitable component ofchassis 100 may determine the unique identifiers of its componentinformation handling systems and reference entries of networkconfiguration information deployment file 700 associated with suchinformation handling systems, and deploy network configurationinformation for each such information handling system based oninformation set forth in network configuration information deploymentfile 700 relating to each information handling system unique identifier.

FIG. 8 illustrates selected contents of an example network configurationinformation deployment file 800, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, network configurationinformation deployment file 800 may include a list, table, map, or otherdata structure with entries each associating network configurationinformation (e.g., unique network identifier addresses) with a variableindicating whether information associated with each entry has alreadybeen used (e.g., already previously deployed and associated with anotherinformation handling system). Although unique identifiers are shown asthe only network configuration information in FIG. 8 for simplicity ofillustration, other network configuration information (e.g., networkpriority, bandwidth, etc.) to be associated with various informationhandling system identifiers may be included in network configurationinformation deployment file 800. During execution of step 608 of method600, CMC 112 and/or another suitable component of chassis 100 may, foreach component information handling system, read network configurationinformation deployment file 800 to find an entry that has not yet beenused, deploy network configuration information for such entry to acomponent information handling system, and then modify the entry withinnetwork configuration information deployment file 800 to indicate thenetwork configuration information associated with the entry has beenused, as well as record the unique identifier an information handlingsystem to which the network configuration information has beenassociated. Accordingly, as each entry is marked as used, duplication ofnetwork information to multiple information handling systems is avoided.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations canbe made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of thedisclosure as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chassis comprising: a plurality of slots eachconfigured to receive a module having one or more information handlingsystems, wherein each slot is configured to electrically andcommunicatively couple the module to other components of the chassis; amedia interface for receiving non-transitory computer-readable media andconfigured to electrically and communicatively couple thecomputer-readable media to other components of the chassis; and acontroller communicatively coupled to the media interface and to each ofthe plurality of slots and configured to: identify information handlingsystems instantiated within the chassis which require networkconfiguration; read network configuration deployment information from acomputer-readable medium received at the media interface, wherein thecomputer-readable medium is configured to be used to deploy networkconfiguration parameters for information handling systems integral tothe chassis and at least one other chassis, wherein the networkconfiguration deployment information comprises a data structure with oneor more entries, each entry setting forth a unique network identifier tobe associated with a respective information handling system and avariable indicating whether such unique identifier has been previouslyused by another information handling system; and for each informationhandling system instantiated within the chassis which requires networkconfiguration, deploy network configuration parameters for theinformation handling system based on information set forth in thenetwork configuration deployment information, wherein the networkconfiguration parameters include the unique network identifier for eachinformation handling system.
 2. The chassis of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is a chassis management controller.
 3. The chassis of claim1, wherein the network configuration deployment information comprises adata structure with one or more entries, each entry setting forth aunique identifier associated with a respective information handlingsystem and network configuration parameters associated with therespective information handling system.
 4. A method comprising, in achassis having a plurality of slots each configured to receive a modulehaving one or more information handling systems wherein each slot isconfigured to electrically and communicatively couple the module toother components of the chassis: identifying information handlingsystems instantiated within the chassis which require networkconfiguration; reading network configuration deployment information froma computer-readable medium received at a media interface integral to thechassis, wherein the computer-readable medium is configured to be usedto deploy network configuration parameters for information handlingsystems integral to the chassis and at least one other chassis, themedia interface for receiving non-transitory computer-readable media andconfigured to electrically and communicatively couple thecomputer-readable media to other components of the chassis, wherein thenetwork configuration deployment information comprises a data structurewith one or more entries, each entry setting forth a unique networkidentifier to be associated with a respective information handlingsystem and a variable indicating whether such unique identifier has beenpreviously used by another information handling system; and for eachinformation handling system instantiated within the chassis whichrequires network configuration, deploying network configurationparameters for the information handling system based on information setforth in the network configuration deployment information, wherein thenetwork configuration parameters include the unique network identifierfor each information handling system.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe network configuration deployment information comprises a datastructure with one or more entries, each entry setting forth a uniqueidentifier associated with a respective information handling system andnetwork configuration parameters associated with the respectiveinformation handling system.
 6. An article of manufacture comprising: afirst non-transitory computer readable medium; and computer-executableinstructions carried on the first non-transitory computer readablemedium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, whenread and executed, for causing the processor to, in a chassis having aplurality of slots each configured to receive a module having one ormore information handling systems wherein each slot is configured toelectrically and communicatively couple the module to other componentsof the chassis: identify information handling systems instantiatedwithin the chassis which require network configuration; read networkconfiguration deployment information from the first non-transitorycomputer-readable medium or a second non-transitory computer readablemedium received at a media interface integral to the chassis, wherein atleast one of the first non-transitory computer-readable medium and thesecond non-transitory computer-readable medium is configured to be usedto deploy network configuration parameters for information handlingsystems integral to the chassis and at least one other chassis, themedia interface for receiving at least one of the first non-transitorycomputer-readable medium and the second non-transitory computer readablemedium and configured to electrically and communicatively couple atleast one of the first non-transitory computer-readable medium and thesecond non-transitory computer readable medium to other components ofthe chassis, wherein the network configuration deployment informationcomprises a data structure with one or more entries, each entry settingforth a unique network identifier to be associated with a respectiveinformation handling system and a variable indicating whether suchunique identifier has been previously used by another informationhandling system; and for each information handling system instantiatedwithin the chassis which requires network configuration, deploy networkconfiguration parameters for the information handling system based oninformation set forth in the network configuration deploymentinformation, wherein the network configuration parameters include theunique network identifier for each information handling system.
 7. Thearticle of claim 6, wherein the network configuration deploymentinformation comprises a data structure with one or more entries, eachentry setting forth a unique identifier associated with a respectiveinformation handling system and network configuration parametersassociated with the respective information handling system.